Bathroom



March 29, 1960 H. S. BOWSER BATHROOM Filed Sept. 15, 1958 2 SheetsSheet1 him 1 INVENTOR. HOWARD 5. son 55R ATTORNEY March 29, 1960 s, ows2,930,047

BATHROOM Filed Sept. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /3 H11 Viffifj-ii mAM'HW'I HOWARD 5. BOW 55A E i/ g 1 l AT TORNEY I BATHROOM Howard S.Bowser, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application September 15, 1958, Serial No. 760,895

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 4--2) My invention relates to bathrooms and hasparticular reference to a prefabricated bathroom, including a toiletcloset, a wash basin and a shower which may be used in new or olddwellings. This is a continuation, in part, of my co-pending patentapplication, Serial Number 626,867, filed December 7, 1956, entitled,Bathroom, and now abandoned.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a compact,inexpensive and efiicient prefabricated bathroom that is considerablycheaper than the normal bathroom found in dwellings. A further object isto provide a small-size bathroom wherein the floor area used by theshower is also available as a floor area for the wash basin and toiletcloset when the shower is not 1 being used. I

A further object is to provide a removable fioor over a shower pan whichis so designed and constructed that the floor remains dry at all times.

A further object is to provide a bathroom having shower space in whichthe shower curtains may drain while the floor area over the shower panis being utilized for other purposes.

Another object is to provide a shower curtain suspension means for usein my bathroom wherein floor boards removably cover the shower pan ortray.

A further object is to provide improved movable shower trays wherein thevertical shower curtains are sealed to a shower tray or its equivalentand all drain age of the curtains is caught by the tray portion of theshower.

- Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent in thefollowing description and claims considered together with theaccompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view in full section'of a bathroom embodying apreferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 1 onthe line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view in full section taken along the line III-III ofFig. 2, but showing the fioor boards folded and the shower curtainsextended for taking a shower.

vFig. 4 is a diagram in elevation of portions of the sewer piping and ofthe water piping as viewed from th direction of the arrow IV in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the shower curtain structure of thebathroom of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view and elevation but turned on its side of theshower curtain structure of Fig. 5 as viewed along the line VI-VI ofFig. 5'.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation view of a modified form of theinvention wherein the side walls of the shower curtains extend over thefloor of the bathroom to act as a horizontal tray for the shower.

. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig.7.

Fig. 9 is an elevation view in full section of another modificationshowing a' pliable shower tray that folds up against the wall.

r Patented Mar. 29, 1960 Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a portionof the shower tray of Fig. 9 with the curtain removed.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view throughthe shower tray of Fig. 9illustrating the roughened upper surface of the shower tray.

Illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is a preferred embodiment of theinvention showing the bathroom entirely prefabricated and ready forshipment, either for new construction or installation in old dwellings.A bathroom may have vertical end walls 12 and side walls 13. Thesevertical walls are previously constructed of sheet material such as%-inch plywood. Set within the vertical walls 12 and 13 may be aroofstructure 14 in sheet form made of suitable material such as 34-inchplywood. A triangular cove 16is secured to the vertical side walls tosupport this ceiling sheet 14 which is preferably set in and not on topof the endwalls.

A base construction for the bathroom may include horizontal framemembers preferably in the form of 1 x 6 wooden boards. This base may beformed in two sections, a left-hand section is viewed in Fig. 1consisting of three 1 x 6s 17 having end pieces of 1 x 6 nailed thereonand a structurally separate frame member in rectangularform by 1 x 6s18. A right-hand end wall 12 of Fig. 1 and the plywood walls 13 adjacentthereto are nailed or otherwise fastened to these base members 18 andthereafter a shower tray or pan 19 is inserted within this enclosure andits flanged edges rest on the top of the 1 x 6s identified as 18.Similarly, the left-hand end wall 12 'of Fig. 1 is nailed to the framemember formed of 1 x 6s identified as 17, together with side wallportions 13. 1

It will be noted particularly with reference to Fig.3 that two doors 21are providedfor the bathroom and the left-hand edge of the doorway isviewed in Fig. 1 which coincides with the joint between these twoseparate frames made of members 17 and 18. These doorway openings may bestiifened by nailing boards 22. to the exterior thereof to form a doorframe. These may be 1 x 6 boards. a

The floor of the bathroom of Figs. 1' through 4'is provided particularlyin accordance with. my invention and consists of two portions, astationary portion 23 and a movable portion 24. The movable portion 24is preferably in the form of floor boards extendingbetween the doors andthese are preferably connected together with continuous hinges such aspiano hinges 26. As illustrated in Fig. l, the floor boards 24 are inplace for use of the toilet closet and wash basin and they are shown inbroken outline in Fig. 1 to show their method of fold againsteach otherin accordion fashion. They are shown in Fig. 3 as fully folded so thatthe shower may be used.

It will be noted with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 that the folded floorboards 24 form a partition at the left side of the shower tray 19' asviewed in Fig. 1 against which a shower curtain 27 may lie. Againreferring to Fig. 1 wherein the floor boards 24 are fully extended, itwill be noted that there is a space between the end thereof and theright-hand end wall 12 which forms a drip space 28 permitting the wetcurtains 27 to drip into the shower tray. or pan 19 while the floor isbeing used for normal purposes. I

Illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are the other bathroom facilities,including a water closet'29 having bowl 31 and a flush tank 32 as wellas a wash basin 33. The wash basin may be mounted on top of a clotheshamper cabinet 34 having'a hinged front door 36. A trap door 37 may, beprovided inside of the cabinet 34 for ready accessto mal use a personstands on the floor boards 24 when using the water closet or wash basin.

Illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 and especially in Fig. 4 is theplumbing layout for the bathroom. These structures are all prefabricatedbuilt into the bathroom as it is assembled. The plumbing accordingly mayinclude a. soil pipe and vent pipe 38 having a branch 39 for the watercloset and having a trap branch 41 draining the wash basin 33. The watersupply conduits may include a hot water pipe 42 having a branch 43leading to the wash basin where it is controlled by a valve 24. A coldwater supply pipe 46 may have a branch 47 leading to the wash basinwhere it is controlled by a valve 48. Valves 44 and 48 areinter-connected so thata third valve 49 may control a coldand hot watermixture leading through a pipe 1 upwardly to the coving l6 and throughthecoving 16 to the opposite side of the bathroom to a shower head 52illustrated best in Fig. 1. Also branching from the cold water pipe 46may be a conduit 45 leading to the flush tank 32. Suitable controlvalves may be disposed in the hot water and cold water supply pipes. Theupright plumbing pipes of Fig. 4 may be encased in a removable cowling53 which also encloses an electrical conduit 54. This cowling maysupport various fixtures such as a toilet paper holder 56 and a lightswitch 57.

The shower tray 19 may be drained at one side by a pipe 58 which is notconnected to the soil pipe 38 ahead of time because of the fact that atrap may be inserted between the pipe 58 and the soil line '38. This isdone on the job after installation by working through the trap door 37.

Various fixtures may be attached to the ceiling 14 of the bathroom,including an electric light 59 and a heat lamp 61. An aperture 62 is cutthrough the ceiling 14 so that an exhaust fan may be mounted on top ofthe board 14. All three electrical fixtures may be operated from theswitch 57.

The details of mounting the shower curtains 27 are shown in Figs. 1, 2,5 and 6. Mounted on each side wall 13 above the doorway is a horizontalrack 63 having a downwardly extending portion 64 adjacent each end.Depending downwardly from these may be curtain hangers 66 which are fourin number so that each one is located in one of the notch-like portions64. An articulated frame is supported at the bottom end of each hanger66 which includes solid cross bars 67 parallel to the end Walls 12 andthere is hinged thereto at the hangers 66 two horizontal jointed members68 which are parallel to the side walls 13 when the curtain is fullyextended as in broken outline in Fig. 1. Suitable curtain hooks 69 rideupon the bars 67 and 68 to support the curtain 27. It will beappreciated that when the curtain 27 is collapsed as shown in solidoutline in Fig. 1, the jointed bars 68 will be folded tight against thesolid bars 67 to give the compact folding illustrated in Fig. l.

Illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is a modification of the invention whereinthe shower curtain itself forms the shower tray. Accordingly, a bathroommay have a fioor board 23a portion to which is disposed a bag-likeshower curtain 71 supported at its upper end by sutable shower rods 72and curtain hooks 73. Starting at a distance at least several inchesabove the floor 23a is a slit 71a which permits ingress and egress tothe shower bag 71. The bag is permanently drained by an outlet fitting74 connected to a trap drain pipe 76.

In operating the device of Figs. 7 and 8 the user extends the bag on therods 72 as illustrated, and then steps into the bag 71 through the slit71a and after socurely overlapping the slit 71a, he takes a shower. Thewater drains through the outlet 74 and upon completion of the shower,the user dries himself within the shower bag and steps out through theslit 71a onto a dry floor 23a. The shower bag 71 is then collapsedagainst an 4 end wall 12a where it continues to drain into the outlet74.

Illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 is a modification of the inventionwherein a pliable shower tray is employed which can be folded against aside wall to place it out of use. Accordingly, a bathroom may have afloor board 23b and an end wall 12b. A shower tray or pan 81 issupported on the floor 23b and is made of pliable material such asrubber, plastic .or similar material. The edge of the tray adjacent theend wall 12b is secured to the floor 231) in a suitable manner as byfasteners passing through a projecting flange 81a. The tray ispermanently drained by a trap drain pipe 82.

Illustrated particularly in Fig. 10 is an accordion construction of theedge wall of the shower tray 81 which accordingly takes the form ofaccordion pleats 83 which radiate from a hinge point 84. These accordionpleats 83 accommodate a folding action about the point 84 permitting theshower tray to be folded against the end wall 121) as shown in brokenoutline in Fig. 9. A suitable hcok 86 may be employed to hold the tray81 in the broken outline position illustrated.

A water tight joint is provided between the pliable tray 81 and a showercurtain 87 which may have an entry slit 88. This joint is in the form ofa head 89 at the top of thetray 31 which is vertically slit from belowto create a resilient C-shaped clamp 91 which grips the lower edge ofthe shower curtain 87. The fioor of the pliable tray 31 may havesuitable points or ridges 92 molded thereon to create a non-slipsurface.

In using the modification of Figs. 9, l0 and 11, the user unhooks thebook 86 allowing the tray to drop to the extended position illustratedin Fig. 9. He thereupon steps through the slit 88, takes his shower,dries and then steps out the slit S8. The shower tray 81 is then foldedagainst the end wall 12b and kept in position by the book 86, where itcontinues to drain into the drain pipe 82. The space normally occupiedby the shower accordingly is then available for other uses such as usinga lavatory or a toilet bowl. It will be noted that the floor 23b will bea dry floor and hence the use of a shower will not inconvenience use ofother bathroom facilities.

The operation of the device of Figs. 1 through 6 is as follows:

The user enters through either door 21 and if it is desired to use theshower the floor boards 24 are folded against the wash basin cabinet 34as illustrated in Fig. 3. The user then stands upon the shower tray 19and opens the slit in the forward edge of the shower curtain 27 and thenpulls upon the nearest horizontal curtain rod 67 extending the showercurtain 27 about him. He is then ready to take a shower and reachesthrough the slit in the curtain to turn on the water at the faucets 44,48 and 49. Alternatively, these shower faucets may be actuated before heopens the slit in the curtains to step inside. Upon completion of theshower, the user reaches through the slit to turn off the water and thendries himself and then collapses the curtain 27 as shown in Fig. l bymeans of the articulated structure shown in Fig. 5. He then pulls thefloor boards 24 to him until they are fiat as shown in Fig. 1 and hethereupon steps upon them to use the other bathroom facilities, such asthe wash basin 33 or the water closet 29. The floor boards 24 upon whichhe will be standing will always be dry in spite of the fact that theyextend over the place where a shower is normally taken. Not only willthis condition of dry floor boards make use of the bathroom morecomfortable but will also make it more sanitary and will reduce thelikelihood of tracking up the rest of the house.

Referring to Fig. 2, a mirror 94 maybe provided over the wash basin 33and a medicine cabinet 96 may be provided over the water closet 29. Alsoa shelf 97 may be provided below the medicine cabinet 96. Towel racks mybathroom design permits optional left-hand door entry or right-hand doorentry, or two-door entry, thus facilitating its use in other structures.Also, my design may be used independently of other structures and may beinstalled indoors or outdoors requiring only water and sewerconnections.

While I have described my invention with respect to specificembodiments, I do not limit myself to these embodiments or otherwise butclaim all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope ofmy invention.

I claim:

1. A shower equipped bathroom that provides a dry floor when the showeris not in use comprising: a compartment having vertical sidewalls and ahorizontal floor, about one-half of the floor being fixed and the otherportion being movable floor boards; a shower tray underneath the floorboards; means permitting at least a part of the floor boards to beopened to a vertical position to fence off the shower tray from saidfixed floor portion; a lavatory basin mounted in the compartment overthe fixed floor portion and facing toward the movable floor portion; atoilet closet mounted in the compartment over the fixed floor portionand facing toward the movable floor portion; a shower head adapted tooverlie the shower tray and means for supporting a movable showerpartition along the fence board to divert shower water into the showertray.

2. A bathroom as set forth in claim 1 wherein another part of the floorboards are spaced from the vertical compartment walls to create a drainspace wherein the movable shower partition can drain into the showertray without wetting the floor boards.

3. A bathroom as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for supporting amovable shower partition is an articulated curtain rod that foldshorizontally against a vertical wall over the drain space, to assistdraining of the wet shower partition.

4. In a bathroom, a shower structure that leavesthe bathroom floor drycomprising: a drain hole in. the bathroom floor, a pliable waterproofbag having an upwardly open mouth and having a drain aperture in itsbottom connected to the edges of the drain hole to drain the interior ofthe bag; and shower head means disposed over the bag mouth, wherebypersons taking showers can stand on the bag bottom and the bag can befolded away after use.

' that leaves the floor dry comprising; a shower tray hav .5. A showerequipped bathroom that provides a dry floor after the shower has beenused comprising: a compartment having vertical sidewalls and ahorizontal floor, a substantial portion of the floor being fixed and theother portion being movable floor boards; a shower tray underneath thefloor boards; means permitting the floor boards to be opened to exposethe shower tray; a lavatory basin mounted in the compartment over thefixed floor striking the fixed floor and the opened floor boards.

6. In a bathroom having a floor, a shower structure ing a stationarypart secured to the floor and a pivotal part normally resting directlyon the floor and movable to a generally vertical position, the bottomsof said parts being substantially co-planar; a waterproof hingeconnecting the two tray parts together and about which the pivotal partpivots; a drain secured to stationary part of the tray and having adrain opening at substantially the level of said floor; a shower curtainhaving its lower end secured to the tray with a water tight joint andsecured around the entire perimeter of the tray; and a shower headdisposed above the tray, whereby after use the pivotal portion of theshower tray may be pivoted to a vertical position out of the way.

7. In a bathroom having a floor, a shower structure that leaves thefioor dry comprising; a generally hori zontal shower tray formed as asingle mechanical unit and having upstanding rim about its entireperimeter, and having a stationary part and a movable part and awaterproof flexible section connecting the two parts together; meanssecuring the stationary part to the floor; drain means connected to thestationary part of the tray; and a shower curtain having its lower edgedis- I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRench July 21, 1914 Fifield Dec. 22, 1925

